"This is bad!"

Yue Mountain cried out in a low voice and subconsciously started forward, but Liu San Niang grabbed him and held him back tightly.

The color drained from both their faces.

’Are years of hard work about to turn to dust right now?’

At that critical moment, Jiang Bohong let out a low grunt and thrust his arms forward!

A surge of powerful True Qi, like a raging tide, poured into the bottom of the Pill Furnace!

The once-dim furnace fire, as if doused in hot oil, erupted with a BOOM, once again bursting forth with a dazzling white light.

A dense CRACKLING, like popping soybeans, came from inside the furnace. Immediately after, a rich medicinal aroma spread throughout the small courtyard.

The tension on Jiang Bohong’s face visibly eased. He laughed heartily and said, "Success! It’s stabilized! Good! Good! Good!"

His three consecutive "goods" revealed just how perilous the situation had been moments before.

Yue Mountain and Liu San Niang exchanged a glance, both sighing in relief.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Jiang Bohong’s hand gestures changed, becoming steady. The furnace fire gradually waned from raging to warm, and finally, it extinguished completely.

With a POP, the lid of the Pill Furnace sprang open on its own.

A rich medicinal aroma wafted toward them.

Everyone looked over anxiously. At the bottom of the furnace lay three lustrous, jade-colored Elixirs. A misty energy flowed ceaselessly across their surfaces, emitting a soft and reserved treasured glow—they were the Bone Transformation Pills!

"Success! Three of them!"

Jiang Bohong let out a long breath. "I have refined this Bone Transformation Pill a total of six times. A yield of three isn’t high, but it isn’t low either."

He carefully removed the three Elixirs with a special Jade Spoon and placed them on a Jade Plate.

"According to the rules, with a yield of three pills, I take a fifty-percent cut, which would be one and a half. But since the Elixirs cannot be divided, I will take one whole pill. The remaining two belong to you."

He pointed to one of them.

"Thank you for your help, Master Jiang!"

The Yue Mountain couple quickly cupped their fists in thanks. They cautiously took the two jade-colored Elixirs and solemnly stored them in an exquisite Cold Jade Bottle.

"Master Jiang, Chief Chen, now that the Elixirs are ready, our son’s matter is urgent. We will take our leave!" Eager to return, the Yue Mountain couple immediately cupped their fists to bid farewell.

"Please, go ahead," Jiang Bohong and Chen Qing said, seeing them off with cupped fists.

After the pair had left, Jiang Bohong finally turned to Chen Qing and said with a smile, "Chen Xiaoyou, this is the pill I promised you. Friendship price of twenty thousand taels of silver, fair and square."

Chen Qing took a deep breath and took out the silver he had prepared. "Thank you, Senior, for keeping your promise. Here are twenty thousand taels of silver. Please accept it."

Jiang Bohong took the silver notes and tucked them away without even looking at them, clearly having complete trust in Chen Qing’s credit.

He handed the Bone Transformation Pill to Chen Qing. "Take good care of it, my young friend. This Elixir’s properties are potent. When you take it, be sure to find an absolutely safe place and prepare supplementary elixirs to protect your heart meridians and harmonize the medicinal effects. You must not be careless."

"This junior will remember Senior’s teachings!"

Chen Qing accepted the Elixir and placed it inside a Purple Sandalwood Box he had prepared in advance. "I am deeply indebted to Senior for your efforts in securing this opportunity for me."

Jiang Bohong waved his hand and smiled. "You’re too kind, my young friend. In the future, if you have another Treasure Medicine or need my assistance, feel free to seek me out."

Having been in the Jianghu for a long time, he understood the principle that more friends meant more opportunities. Forging this good relationship today would expand his network, and it might prove useful someday.

Chen Qing understood his meaning and cupped his fists.

Carrying the Bone Transformation Pill, Chen Qing left the Old Knife Master Inn.

’It’s true that Jiang Bohong’s Alchemy Skill is superb, but does he know everything about the refining method for the Bone Transformation Pill? Are its medicinal properties really as stable as he claims?’

Chen Qing’s mind churned with these thoughts as he walked along the bustling street.

He had read too many examples in ancient texts of people whose foundations were ruined, or who had even died, because they sought quick success and mistakenly trusted others.

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Qing arrived at the rear courtyard of the Cyan Wood Institute.

"What is it?"

Li Baichuan was still sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat. He heard the footsteps but didn’t even lift his eyelids.

"Master Li."

Chen Qing didn’t waste any words. He stepped forward, carefully took the Purple Sandalwood Box containing the Bone Transformation Pill from his robes, and presented it with both hands, placing it on the small table in front of Li Baichuan.

"This disciple came upon this pill by chance. It is called the ’Bone Transformation Pill’ and is said to have the effect of improving one’s Root Bone. However, this item concerns my very foundation, and with my limited knowledge, I feel uneasy. I have come to ask for Master Li’s discerning eye. This Pill... is it safe to consume?"

Chen Qing’s words were sincere, his posture extremely humble.

Li Baichuan gave the exquisite wooden box a cursory glance.

"It’s a genuine Bone Transformation Pill. The refinement level is a bit crude."

"The medicinal properties are acceptable. It won’t kill you. Use it if you want."

After saying this, he fell silent.

"Thank you for clearing my doubts, Master Li! This is a small token for your trouble."

The weight in Chen Qing’s heart was finally lifted. He left behind five hundred taels of silver and hurried back to his residence.

Li Baichuan was an Alchemy master himself. Since he had appraised it, there was basically no problem.

Not long after Chen Qing stepped into his courtyard, a Steward from the Internal Affairs Hall came looking for him. "Chief Chen," he said, "Elder Wang has sent me to ask if you require any maids or servants to be added to the courtyard to manage daily life? Or perhaps we could arrange for a skilled chef?"

Chen Qing shook his head with almost no hesitation. "Thank Elder Wang for his concern, but I am accustomed to peace and quiet. I’m used to being on my own. Suddenly having more people around would just feel restrictive and inconvenient."

Hearing this, the Steward’s expression didn’t change. "Very well, I won’t disturb you any longer, Chief Chen."

He bowed and withdrew.

Chen Qing closed his courtyard gate, shutting out the rest of the world.

He knew he had far too many secrets.

Every additional person around him was another risk of exposure. He would rather do everything himself than plant a hidden danger by his side.